Does anyone else think that this rule is a freakin’ joke? Can anyone tell me what Sean Avery did that was against the rules? I’ve watched this thing over and over again and I still can’t figure out how he broke any rule in the book. Obviously he didn’t since they NHL decided to add a rule in his honor. What a bunch of BLEEP!

Let me break this down for you. Sean Avery was NOT in the crease. Nor did he touch goalie Martin Brodeur in any way. It should be noted, however, that Brodeur did knock Avery in the face. I don’t recall seeing a penalty for that. I guess that I’m going to have to go back and look at the play again just to make sure. Nope. Still no penalty.

So, if Avery wasn’t in the crease and he didn’t come into contact with the goalie, how in the world did he do anything that could be construed as interfering with the goalie. What I saw was a forward that was doing everything he could to screen the goaltender and the way I know hockey, forwards are encouraged to screen the goalie. That’s how goals are scored, as a matter of fact.

Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell issued a statement about the League’s position. It is considered an interpretation of Rule 75, concerning goaltender interference.

"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play."

Barry Melrose, on Sportscenter Monday night, said that the situation was embarrassing. I agree with Melrose that what Avery did was a bit odd, but then, should be expect anything else from this guy? I certainly don’t. But I also still stand by my first three paragraphs—Avery didn’t do anything that was against the rules. He was simply screening the goalie and as long as he stayed out of the crease and as long as he didn’t make contact with the goalie then I believe that he was well within his rights to do what he did.

Some may say that no one had ever done it before, so therefore it must not be legal. My comeback would be that until Ron Hextall scored a goal, no goalie had ever lit the lamp. So, seeing that logic all the way through…a goalie scoring a goal should be illegal. Right?

That argument isn’t right and neither is the argument that the Avery rule is a good thing. I respect Avery for going out night after night and doing whatever he can to help his team win a game. Keep up the good work Avery and even though it looks as if nothing good has come out of this, at least your name will be attached to the rule books from now until the end of time.
 

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